As I've said previously, I'm all about short hikes. If roundtrip takes around 45 minutes, then I'm happy. I don't like hiking for the sake of hiking, but rather, I do it for the end goal: the view, waterfall, etc. I'm in it for whatever destination lies at the end. Fortunately, the Sunset Pillbox fits all these criteria. The Ehukai Pillbox hike is yet another trail on Oahu where you hike to bunkers formerly used by the military. While its formal name is “Ehukai,” it’s better known as the Sunset Pillbox Hike because of the beautiful views it offers of the North Shore coastline. Ekuhai Beach is right in sight; although, you’ll more often hear this referred to as “Banzai Pipeline.” Where Is the Ehukai Pillbox? The trailhead for Ehukai Pillbox is located right behind Sunset Elementary School. In fact, they’re so close that Dan and I were initially confused if we were allowed to park in the small lot available for public parking right where the trail starts. With a school event going on, the lot was almost pretty much entirely full. It wasn’t until we hiked up and down that there seemed to be enough people on the trail for that many cars to make sense. What Should You Expect from the Sunset Pillbox Hike The hike takes about 30 minutes each way. So, it definitely qualifies as a short hike in my book. However, while it’s short, I wouldn’t say it was easy. There were parts that were especially challenging and strenuous. Dan even remarked, “Wow! This is like a legitimate hike.” That goes to show the types of “hikes” I normally select. The trail starts off flat. You’ll weave through some narrow trees for about 100 yards. After that, you’ll begin to climb up a steep hill. The trail has various small boulders, fallen trees, and eroded tree roots. Fortunately, unlike other hikes I’ve done on Oahu, there are stairs dug into the hill that help to make the climb a bit more convenient. Be sure to look for the ropes tied along the trail between trees. I find these especially helpful in steep areas with loose dirt. I was constantly adjusting my footing in an effort to avoid sliding down the hill on the way back down. Now, when we made it to the “midway” point. Dan and I messed up. The trail lacked signage, and we ended up getting a bit turned around. To help you avoid this, I’ll tell you what we should have done. At the midway point, we should have come across a plateau resting area with a picnic bench. The bench is dedicated to the students at Sunset Elementary School, and it’s decorated with children’s handprints. After you’ve had a moment to catch your breath, continue onto the ridge. There are great views at this spot, and you should be able to see the ocean, surf, and residents below. You come to a point where the Ehukai Pillbox Trail leads both east and west. Make sure you turn east (left) at this juncture. Dan and I turned right, and we ended up having to backtrack. Once you reach the top flat ridge, the Sunset Pillbox is only minutes away. However, this is only the first pillbox on this hike. You should visit this first one and then continue on to this second one. To find the second one, the trail will seem to disappear for a second as you travel past large bolder rocks. Next, you’ll hike down through tall grass. Stay near the ridge and don’t wander off into the mountainside, and you should be okay. There will be private property with “No Trespassing” signs. Ignore them at your own risk. If you choose to, the trail will come back into sight, and you’ll reach the second pillbox within five minutes. Final Thoughts When Dan and I hiked Sunset Pillbox, we only reached the first pillbox. We went at sunset (naturally), and our wrong turn had us worried we may not make it in time for sunset at all. As such, when we reached the first pillbox, we were content. However, now that it’s so clear that there’s more available (with a better view!), we may just have to do it again. See more blogs about items from my Hawaii bucket list here.
